After six years as the face of Albert Lea athletics, Clay Anderson is leaving town.

The current Albert Lea High School activities director and head football coach announced Friday that he has accepted a position at Benton Community High School in Van Horne, Iowa, as an at-risk program coordinator and head football coach.

Anderson, 47, is under contract with the Albert Lea school district until June 30.

Anderson interviewed for the position on April 7 and was made an offer on Tuesday. After he accepted, the Benton Community school board approved the hire on Wednesday. Anderson began telling friends and colleagues Friday that he was leaving Albert Lea beginning with Albert Lea school board Chairman Bill Leland. He told his football players Friday after school.

“I feel proud of what I’ve done here,” Anderson said. “We’ve done things the right way and taught boys how to be men, and how to handle adversity. I sure wish we could have tasted more success.”

After having coaching success elsewhere in Minnesota, Anderson struggled turning around the Albert Lea football program. Since his first season in 2005, Anderson accumulated an 11-44 record as the Tigers’ coach. His most successful season was in 2007 when the Tigers finished 3-7 and beat Austin twice.

In what was his final season in Albert Lea, Anderson thought the Tigers were close to turning the corner.

“When the season was done, we didn’t want it to be done,” he said. “It was the first time in years that’s happened. When you’re going through a losing season it’s hard to stay positive. We weren’t very far away from being a pretty good team.”

Anderson also said he never enjoyed working with a group of athletes more than he did with this year’s varsity football team.

Anderson said he plans on putting his home up for sale immediately and hopes to relocate to the eastern side of the Benton Community school district, preferably near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Anderson will also live closer to his wife Brenda’s family who lives in Williamsburg, Iowa, about 30 miles away from the school he’ll be teaching at.

Anderson said he has no regrets about his time in Albert Lea and no ill feelings whatsoever toward the community. He wished the Albert Lea football program the best and said he’ll be following it online.

“I care way too much about these kids not to follow them,” Anderson said.

Anderson was raised in Northfield and graduated from Northfield High School in 1982. He received his bachelor’s degree at St. Olaf College and his master’s degree at St. Mary’s University.

Before coaching at Albert Lea, Anderson was the head coach at Norwood-Young America High School for five years. Prior to that, Anderson was head coach at Le Center High School for three years and an assistant coach at Northfield High School for 11 years, eight of which were spent as defensive coordinator.

Anderson was named Minnesota Class AA Coach of the Year in 2002.